Nikki Giovanni is known as a world poet, educator, activist, and commentator. She is one of the most widely-read American poets.
Though she was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1943, she grew up in the little all-black
suburb in Cincinnati, Ohio, called Lincoln Heights. From Fisk University, she earned her Honor’s Degree, then attended University of Pennsylvania and Columbia publishing her first poetry book, Feeling the Black Talk. It was published in 1968. Only a year, she published her second book, which launched her writing career. Her books won many honors and awards, as she was once a finalist for the Grammy Awards.
Poems
CHOICES
If i can't do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don't want
to do
It's not the same thing
but it's the best i can
do
If i can't have
what i want . . . then
my job is to want
what i've got
and be satisfied
that at least there
is something more to want
Since i can't go
where i need
to go . . . then i must . . . go
where the signs point
through always understanding
parallel movement
isn't lateral
When i can't express
what i really feel
i practice feeling
what i can express
and none of it is equal
I know
but that's why mankind
alone among the animals
learns to cry
PERSONAL REACTION: I like this poem because life is all about choices. Your life is made depending on the choices you make. It makes who you are. When there is a fork in the road you have to choose between the two paths. The right one, or the wrong one. No matter which one you choose, it will change your life forever. THEME: Choices. METAPHOR.IMAGERY.SYMBOLISM.FREE VERSE.
Sky Diving I hang on the edge
of this universe
singing off-key
talking too loud
embracing myself
to cushion the fall
I shall tumble
into deep space
never in this form
or with this feeling
to return to earth
It is not tragic
I will spiral
through that Black hole
losing skin limbs
internal organs
searing
my naked soul
Landing
in the next galaxy
with only my essence
embracing myself
as
I dream of you PERSONAL REACTION: I chose to recite this poem because it expresses the way I look at life. I try to live life at the fullest not letting anyone or anything hold me back. I try to live on the edge. You only have one chance at life, so take the chances while you can. Take risks. Don’t be afraid. You can’t go through life not taking chances and always being worried. If you do that, you aren’t living. THEME: Nikki Giovanni expresses her feelings because she is going through life thinking of someone in her past, but she doesn’t let them hold her back from living. She keeps going. HYPERBOLE. IMAGERY. SYMBOLISM. FREE VERSE.
You came too
I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding
I found you
I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh
You dried my tears
You shared my happiness
I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever
You came, too PERSONAL REACTION: I like this poem because Giovanni is talking about someone who she loves always being there for her. No matter where she went, that someone was always there for you, nit giving up. THEME: She found the person she was looking for in the crowd. FREE VERSE. SYMBOLISM.IMAGERY.
Biography
Nikki Giovanni is known as a world poet, educator, activist, and commentator. She is one of the most widely-read American poets.
Though she was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1943, she grew up in the little all-black
suburb in Cincinnati, Ohio, called Lincoln Heights. From Fisk University, she earned her Honor’s Degree, then attended University of Pennsylvania and Columbia publishing her first poetry book, Feeling the Black Talk. It was published in 1968. Only a year, she published her second book, which launched her writing career. Her books won many honors and awards, as she was once a finalist for the Grammy Awards.
Poems
CHOICES
If i can't do
what i want to do
then my job is to not
do what i don't want
to do
It's not the same thing
but it's the best i can
do
If i can't have
what i want . . . then
my job is to want
what i've got
and be satisfied
that at least there
is something more to want
Since i can't go
where i need
to go . . . then i must . . . go
where the signs point
through always understanding
parallel movement
isn't lateral
When i can't express
what i really feel
i practice feeling
what i can express
and none of it is equal
I know
but that's why mankind
alone among the animals
learns to cry
PERSONAL REACTION: I like this poem because life is all about choices. Your life is made depending on the choices you make. It makes who you are. When there is a fork in the road you have to choose between the two paths. The right one, or the wrong one. No matter which one you choose, it will change your life forever.
THEME: Choices.
METAPHOR.IMAGERY.SYMBOLISM.FREE VERSE.
Sky Diving
I hang on the edge
of this universe
singing off-key
talking too loud
embracing myself
to cushion the fall
I shall tumble
into deep space
never in this form
or with this feeling
to return to earth
It is not tragic
I will spiral
through that Black hole
losing skin limbs
internal organs
searing
my naked soul
Landing
in the next galaxy
with only my essence
embracing myself
as
I dream of you
PERSONAL REACTION: I chose to recite this poem because it expresses the way I look at life. I try to live life at the fullest not letting anyone or anything hold me back. I try to live on the edge. You only have one chance at life, so take the chances while you can. Take risks. Don’t be afraid. You can’t go through life not taking chances and always being worried. If you do that, you aren’t living.
THEME: Nikki Giovanni expresses her feelings because she is going through life thinking of someone in her past, but she doesn’t let them hold her back from living. She keeps going.
HYPERBOLE. IMAGERY. SYMBOLISM. FREE VERSE.
You came too
I came to the crowd seeking friends
I came to the crowd seeking love
I came to the crowd for understanding
I found you
I came to the crowd to weep
I came to the crowd to laugh
You dried my tears
You shared my happiness
I went from the crowd seeking you
I went from the crowd seeking me
I went from the crowd forever
You came, too
PERSONAL REACTION: I like this poem because Giovanni is talking about someone who she loves always being there for her. No matter where she went, that someone was always there for you, nit giving up.
THEME: She found the person she was looking for in the crowd.
FREE VERSE. SYMBOLISM.IMAGERY.